Empowering Learners: SBL’s Innovative Approach to Education

How does School Beyond Limitations combine their approach to learning with international examination requirements?

All facilitators at School Beyond Limitations work hard to create a balanced and effective learning environment that supports and facilitates their students to discover their unique personal essence while at the same time striving for international education qualifications that are globally recognised.

Our facilitators design flexible approaches to learning and subject material. We allow our students choice and autonomy in their learning paths and we provide a range of topics and learning materials for students to explore based on their interests and inspirations. This allows our students to take ownership of their learning while still covering the required content and subject matter for international examinations.

We make use of inquiry based assessment, so instead of relying solely on traditional tests and assessments we incorporate inquiry based assessments that require our students to demonstrate their understanding of the learning material in creative and innovative ways.

This allows our students to apply their knowledge in real-world contexts and encourages critical thinking and problem-solving skills thus enabling our students to answer exam related questions in much more depth than mere content regurgitation.

We work collaboratively with our students to create individualised Learning and Development Plans for each student based on their strengths, weaknesses, and holistic learning goals. This allows our students to progress at their own pace towards any examination and allows them to focus on areas where they need additional support, while still working towards meeting the requirements of international examinations.

We constantly help our students to reflect and self assess on their progress and personal development. Our students are encouraged to reflect on their learning experiences and to assess their own progress on their examination journey.

We consistently provide opportunities for self-assessment and peer feedback, allowing our students to take ownership of their learning, develop metacognitive skills and a deeper understanding of their chosen subject to prepare for an examination.

We use authentic assessment processes that reflect the real world. We Incorporate authentic assessments that reflect genuine challenges and scenarios from society. This could include simulations, case studies, or performance-based assessments that require our students to regularly apply their knowledge and skills in practical contexts, thus enabling our students to think critically, carefully and thoroughly through an approach to an examination or a particular examination question.

At SBL we facilitate, guide and support our students in iTime, mentor sessions and, at times, through explicit, direct teaching in lessons. So, while promoting our students to lead their own learning, our facilitators provide guidance, feedback, direct instruction and support along the way too – always pointing out resources, approaches, techniques and skills to equip our students for international examinations. Our facilitators do everything that they can to inspire and motivate our young people to navigate their learning and be prepared for the next step in their examination journey.

Our approach ensures that our student-led learning experiences are aligned with the learning objectives and standards outlined in the international examinations and that they can be assessed alongside international examinations. This ensures that SBL students are adequately prepared for exams while still engaging in meaningful and a highly personalised learning experience at SBL.

By integrating all of these strategies, our facilitators create a learning environment that empowers students to take ownership of their learning while still meeting the requirements of globally recognised examinations. Our approach fosters critical thinking, creativity, and lifelong learning skills, preparing students for success both in examinations, their future endeavours and the real world.